Najat's student work experience to volunteering role!

Najat joined WALK in 2017 as a student on a college placement from her 2nd year in Inchicore College of Further Education while studying for a Social Care Diploma (QQI Level 6 Award).
A classmate of Najat had undertaken her work placement in 2016 and spoke very highly of WALK so Najat contacted our Day Supports Manager and was delighted to be accepted on the placement.
Najat had undertaken her placement in first year with Age Action doing their ‘Getting Started’ Programme. She was enthusiastic about learning more about social care work through the diversity offered by WALK.
The welcome received by Najat when she started was very warm. This was by staff and the people supported. She said a number of supports for her placement made her feel confident about her role in
the organisation. This included:
• A full induction in her first week by our Day Supports Manager
• The shadowing role she was offered until she settled within a specific model of support (The Progression
Group)
• Being assigned a supervisior for any day to day queries and having that person’s number should
she need it at any time when out and about in the community.

Najat said that as part of her placement she was required to do assignments for college. She found the manager open to discussing areas for the assignments and was given good advice for completing them. This
has really helped her to match the theory from college with the practice of the real life setting. 

Najat could not settle on just one highlight of her 200 hours placement in WALK! 

She loved supporting Catriona to work in a clothes (charity) shop. Najat got to know Catriona well and she found a good way of interacting with her that encouraged Catriona to be the best she could be at her job. Najat also liked the uniqueness of the Green Garden’s pop up Christmas shop. She supported Margaret to work in this environment and said she was delighted to see the progress Margaret made in her interactions with both staff and customers of the shop over her tenure there. 

While her role was varied, Najat said that she was clear on her working timetable and the expectations WALK had of her as a student on placement. She was so happy with her placement that she decided that
when her 200 hours of placement was completed that she would like to join WALK’s Progression Group in a volunteer capacity. This is high praise indeed.

When asked if she would recommend WALK to another prospective student her answer was a resounding ‘definitely, oh my goodness, definitely’. 

WALK would like to thank Najat for her enthusiasm during her placement and wish her the very best of luck as she pursues her ambition of completing a Social Care Work Degree through Dublin Institute of
Technology.